Training aid-guide device for pool cue

ABSTRACT

A training aid-guide device for a pool or billiard cue is adapted to be easily held by the user by reason of a configuration featuring a generally rectangular elongate body having a thumb notch in one corner, a palm abutment in spaced opposition, a cue notch above the thumb notch and a generally flat bottom edge for supporting contact with a pool or billiard table.

United States Patent [191 Baker Dec. 3, 1974 TRAINING AID-GUIDE DEVICEFOR POOL CUE [76] Inventor: Merle W. Baker, 1518 Claybourne Dr., Toledo,Ohio 43614 [22] Filed: May 21, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 362,520

[52] US. Cl. 273/24 [51] Int. Cl A63d 15/10 [58] Field of Search 273/23,24

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 242,877 6/1881 Bryant 273/24570,459 11/1896 Cronin v r 273/24 3,372,929 3/1968 Molis 273/233,765,675 10/1973 Di Marzio 273/1 B 3,794,318 2/1974 Holmes 273/1 BFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 397,937 9/1933 Great Britain 273/24Primary ExaminerGeorge J. Marlo Assistant Examiner-R. T. Stouffer [57]ABSTRACT A training aid-guide device for a pool or billiard cue isadapted to be easily held by the user by reason of a configurationfeaturing a generally rectangular elongate body having a thumb notch inone corner, a palm abutment in spaced opposition, a cue notch above thethumb notch and a generally flat bottom edge for supporting contact witha pool or billiard table.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTELBEE 3.851 gave FIG. 2

FIG.3

TRAINING AID-GUIDE DEVICE FOR POOL CUE The present invention relatesbroadly to games and, more specifically, to games employing a pool orbilliard cue which is manually, axially stroked and thusly employed tomove one ball or a plurality of balls about anelevated playing surface,usually a table; all of said games having objects and methods ofcompetitive scoring peculiar to the particular game. The cue which isused to strike the balls has a butt end adapted to be grasped by thehand of the user, a generally tapered median region terminating in acushion tip for transmitting the force of the axial stroke to the ball.The cushion tip is usually felted and powdered to avoid slippage, insuregood contact and enable the skillful user to impart spin to the ball forpurposes of intricate control of the path before and after striking anedge of the table or another ball. The variation in skill and control ofthe ball movement by the cue determines the achievement of the objectsand outcome of the competition.

In employing the pool cue, the right-handed user holds the butt end inhis right hand and manipulates the fingers and associated parts of theleft hand opposite to form an intricate guide for the tapered region ofthe cue so that it can be axially moved to and fro to guide the pool cuein the desired stroke path. Many people simply create a V notch betweena thumb and the adjacent region of the hand at the butt end of theforefinger. Others manipulate their index finger into an inverted Uwhich, together with associated parts of the middle finger and withappropriate support of the other fingers, creates a suitable guide,permitting skillful stroking of the pool cue and achievement of thedesired movement of the ball and/or balls in keeping with the objects ofthe game and the exigencies of the lay of the table at the time.

People, particularly children and females, introduced to the game ofpool have difficulty with this part of the game; namely, the manualdexterity necessary to contort the fingers and hand into a suitableguide support for the axially reciprocating cue. This can result inearly disgust and failure to progress in the appreciation of theenjoyment of the various games of this type. Lack of skill in this areacan also lead to damage, not only to the pool cue but to the table topsince a miscue can cause the cushion tip of the cue to rip the coveringof the table which is usually of farily high-grade felt and alsoinvolving fairly expensive labor costs.

With the foregoing general introduction, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a device in the nature of a training air or guidewhich can be easily employed by the beginner of whatever age and soemployed permit this individual to control the axial movement of thepool cue in an advantageous and desirable manner.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide such adevice which combines several features of structure which allow it to bevery easily and naturally held by either hand of the user, depending onwhether he be right-handed or left-handed or even if he be manuallyhandicapped to some degree.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such adevice which is extremely simple in design and is accordingly quiteinexpensive and readily manufactured and available to the user at lowcost.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such adevice which is so contoured and designed as to allow a gradualtransition from initial holding to a more advanced state of holdingwhich more closely approximates the hand position of the experiencedpool or billiard player who does not employ such training aid or guidemember.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a devicewhose design and configuration is of such simplicity that it can befabricated of a variety of materials of construction ranging from woodto metal to plastic; with the latter probably being preferred since itwould permit multi-cavity molding production of the devices of thepresent invention at extremely low cost.

The within objects and, as well, other objects of the present inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the annexed sheet ofdrawings on which there is presented, for purpose of illustration only,a single embodiment of the present invention.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a three-quarter perspective view from above showing thetraining aid-guide device of the present invention gripped in the handof the user; the hand being shown in dotted outline;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat similar view to FIG. 1 but from side elevation inorder to show the relationship of the hand and its parts with the table;and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the positioning of thehand in a more advanced stage of usage of the training aid-guide deviceof the present inventron.

Considered most simply, the device of the present invention is arelatively flat or planar body of generally elongate configuration whichfeatures, in one corner, a thumb notch and, in'an upper generallyopposed edge, a slightly tapered region terminating in an abutment; thelatter features cooperating with the thumb to provide a natural grippingof the tapered region and the abutment with that region on the palm justrearwardly of the fingers; the device featuring additionally, just abovethe thumb notch, a concave notch for the pool cue and a generally flatbottom edge for smooth supporting contact with the pool table.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral10 identifies the surface of the pool table, while the reference numeral12 identifies the training aid-guide device of the present invention. Ascan be seen, the guide member or training aid 12 is relatively flat andrather elongate, having, in a lower corner, an arcuate cutout serving asa convenient notch 14 for a thumb T. The thumb notch curves downwardlyto intersect the bottom edge 16 which is flat and proceeds linearly tothe opposite end of the device 12 wherein there is conveniently provideda through hole 17 for attachment of a leather thong or the like forattachment to the wrist or for whatever suits the whim of the user.Other than the through hole 17, the far end of the guide member isrelatively nonfunctional excepting that it is the starting point of theupper edge 18 which extends divergingly to the right with respect to thebottom edge 16 and finally juts abruptly upwardly at 19 to form theabutment at 20. The abutment crowns at 21. The edge of the device thenproceeds further to the right to define a concave cue guide notch 24which, as can be seen, is situated just above the thumb notch. The cuestick is shown in dotted outline and identified by reference legend Q.The thumb notch terminates in an abutment or crown 26 which confines orlimits the lateral movement of the cue to the notch. From the crown 26,the edge proceeds vertically as at 27 to the thumb notch 14.

Now in usage, it is observed that (1) the thumb notch 14, (2) thegradual converging taper 18 of the upper edge and (3) the abutment 20cooperate to allow the hand H (shown in dotted outline) to very easily,and without stress or strain, grip in a very natural way the trainingaid or guide member 12 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 and, for thatmatter, in FlG. 2. The fingers of the hand are not necessary to hold thedevice in what appears to be defiance of the law of gravity The surfaces18 and 19 and abutment 20 can be seen to oppose the thumb notch 14 suchthat the slight gripping action of the thumb compresses the devicenaturally, without appreciable effort and without requiring theassistance of the fingers which can extend naturally outwardly andresting on the surface of the table 10 as illustrated in FlG. 2. in thisposition, the notch 24 will be in a very natural position with respectto the other parts of the hand and will very closely approximate theposition of the cue with respect to the hand as practiced by theexperienced pool or billiard player who is not using the guide member ofthe present invention but rather is employing or manipulating hisfingers into a guide for the cue. Also cooperating with the abovefeatures is provision for the flat bottom edge 16 which. resting on thepool table, provides through the contour of the edge 18 a firm supportto the hand and particularly the knuckle region in a gradually downwardslopping relationship as illustrated in FIG. 1. Here again, thesecooperating features allow the left hand, as illustrated in thesefigures, to be in a very relaxed position and yet at the same timeallowing the user to have under his control a firm, guide notch for thepool cue. The nervousness and uncertainty of the neophyte is nottransmitted through the hands to the cue as might be otherwise evidencedby a visibly shaking support. Rather, the bottom edge 16, the upper edge18 and the natural finger position against the table, coupled with thesecure feeling provided by the thumb notch, allow the person employingthe guide member or training aid to have on the table a firm and stableguide for his pool or billiard cue.

As the players confidence increases due to improved skill and hisfamilarity, he may and usually will progress to holding the device ofthe present invention in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3. The onlydifference, between the hand and finger position as shown in FIG. 3 andthat as shown in H6. 2, is that the fingers are wrapped around thedevice and the bottom edge 16 will be resting on the fingers, usuallyproximate the first joint inward from the finger tips. Considering thispositioning. it is easy to see that it is a natural evolution for theuser to gradually move the forefinger closer and closer to the cue notchin somewhat of a covering or bridge relationship. Once this stage hasbeen achieved. it is again a natural and easy next evolutionary step forthe user to discard the guide member entirely and go to relying upon hisfingers alone. Accordingly, the device of the present invention is seenas uniquely designed to not only provide an aid of utility to thebeginner but is such as to encourage and allow the user to advance andprogress in a natural manner to a finger and hand positioning which isvery close to the positioning of the hand and fingers as configurated bythe skilled or experienced pool or billiard player.

Actual guide members which have been built in accordance with theforegoing principles measure about 3 to 6 inches long by from /8 to 1'2inches thick. The slope of the upper edge 18 with respect to the bottomedge 16 measures approximately from 8 to 12.

It will be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made andembodied in devices like the one disclosed and it is the intent toinclude all such within the scope of the present invention unless suchwould violate the language of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hand-held guide device for pool or billiard cues. said devicecomprising a principal body of sheet mate rial having a generallyrectangular elongate configuration and adapted to be held by an averagehand,

a. said body having an upper notch in one corner receptive ofa pool cueand serving as a guide or support for the cue in its normal axialmovement in use as controlled by the user,

b. said body including a cut out thumb notch in a corner next adjacentsaid one corner and beneath the upper cue notch, accommodating the thumbof the user in a natural holding or gripping of the device, said notchbeing contoured and located to receive lateral and upward thumbpressure, and

c. said body including an upper edge adapted for Contact with the palmof the hand of the user when the users thumb is contacting said notchand said upper edge in contact with said palm providing op positionalpressure of said palm meeting generally upward and lateral thumbpressure applied on the thumb notch by the user, whereby hand holding ofthe device is facilitated.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper edge includesan abutment for the contact of the palm near the root of the indexfinger of the user, accentuating the opposition of the palm to the thumbUNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE CERTIFIQATE @F CQRRECNQN patent 3 DatedDecember 3, 1974 Merle W. Baker Inventor(s) It is certified that errorappears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

On the title page, after "Assistant Examiner" 7 insert Attorney v---Paul F. Stutz Signed and sealed this 28th day of January 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents USCOMM'DC 50376-F'69 U.5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 869. 93 oORM F'O-105O (10-69)

1. A hand-held guide device for pool Or billiard cues, said devicecomprising a principal body of sheet material having a generallyrectangular elongate configuration and adapted to be held by an averagehand, a. said body having an upper notch in one corner receptive of apool cue and serving as a guide or support for the cue in its normalaxial movement in use as controlled by the user, b. said body includinga cut out thumb notch in a corner next adjacent said one corner andbeneath the upper cue notch, accommodating the thumb of the user in anatural holding or gripping of the device, said notch being contouredand located to receive lateral and upward thumb pressure, and c. saidbody including an upper edge adapted for contact with the palm of thehand of the user when the user''s thumb is contacting said notch andsaid upper edge in contact with said palm providing oppositionalpressure of said palm meeting generally upward and lateral thumbpressure applied on the thumb notch by the user, whereby hand holding ofthe device is facilitated.
 2. The invention as claimed in claim 1,wherein said upper edge includes an abutment for the contact of the palmnear the root of the index finger of the user, accentuating theopposition of the palm to the thumb pressure.